To obtain federal funding to improve the conditions of the mentally ill, expand state hospitals to include wings for the mentally ill and land grants on which to build asylums to house them.
Skills Profile
-Investigated all housing of the mentally ill throughout the United States
-Taken cases to court in attempt to improve conditions
-Founded 32 mental hospitals by 1880
-Traveled to England to meet with advocates for penal reformation
-Read all available literature on mental illness
-Interviewed physicians about diagnosis and treatment of diseases
Employment History
School Teacher
1816
Worcester, Massachusetts
-Founded school for little children
-Led free evening classes for poor children
Author
Worcester, Massachusetts
-Wrote “Conversations on Common Things” , published in 1824
-Wrote “Meditations for Private Hours”, published in 1828
-Wrote “The Garland of Flora”, published in 1829
-Wrote “American Moral Tales for Young Persons” , published in 1832
Superintendent of Female Nurses for the Union Army
1861 — 1865
United States
-Organized first aid stations and field hospitals
-Recruit nurses and set up training facilities
-Purchase supplies
References
-Horace Mann - Horace Mann and Dorothea Dix were both Unitarian reformers. Horace Mann, however, mainly supported education reformation. He encouraged Dorothea to continue her reformation work and warned her that many of her attempts would probably fail; she would have to work continuously towards her goal. Both were located in Massachusetts.
-Charles Sumner- Charles Sumner, an abolitionist, fully supported Dix’s cause. He was a sort of reformer himself, and was also fighting for better treatment of a group of people. He also lived in Massachusetts.
-Samuel Gridley Howe- Howe, head of the Perkins Institute for the Blind, supported Dorothea’s cause whole heartedly. He shared similar views on reformation; both wanted to improve conditions for the blind. Both petitioned for more schools for the blind.
-“The Three Horsemen of Reform” in Massachusetts, mentioned above, all helped Dorothea Dix secure legislation and funding for better housing and care of the mentally ill. They spoke on her behalf in the court room, since she thought it un-lady-like to speak.
- Taken cases to court in attempt to improve conditions
- Founded 32 mental hospitals by 1880
- Traveled to England to meet with advocates for penal reformation
- Read all available literature on mental illness
- Interviewed physicians about diagnosis and treatment of diseases
- Founded school for little children
- Led free evening classes for poor children
- Wrote “Conversations on Common Things” , published in 1824
- Wrote “Meditations for Private Hours”, published in 1828
- Wrote “The Garland of Flora”, published in 1829
- Wrote “American Moral Tales for Young Persons” , published in 1832
- Organized first aid stations and field hospitals
- Recruit nurses and set up training facilities
- Purchase supplies
- Charles Sumner- Charles Sumner, an abolitionist, fully supported Dix’s cause. He was a sort of reformer himself, and was also fighting for better treatment of a group of people. He also lived in Massachusetts.
- Samuel Gridley Howe- Howe, head of the Perkins Institute for the Blind, supported Dorothea’s cause whole heartedly. He shared similar views on reformation; both wanted to improve conditions for the blind. Both petitioned for more schools for the blind.
- “The Three Horsemen of Reform” in Massachusetts, mentioned above, all helped Dorothea Dix secure legislation and funding for better housing and care of the mentally ill. They spoke on her behalf in the court room, since she thought it un-lady-like to speak.
Sources:
"Dorothea Dix." UUA Server for Other Organizations' Web Sites. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. <http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/dorotheadix.html>.
"Dorothea Dix." United States History. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1092.html>.
"Dorothea Lynde Dix Biography (1802-1887)." Internet FAQ Archives - Online Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. <http://www.faqs.org/health/bios/93/Dorothea-Lynde-Dix.html>.